Hello everyone, I was talking with Kurt about this new company that launched on the same day when Crunchyroll release its French website. Right now, I'm running out of time, so I'll leave some information from you and some news articles. I will expand this article soon.

I posted a snapshot of their lineup. Though, I did miss some shows. You can see them all on the website. Here's the link.

“WAKANIM is a French internet broadcaster for Japanese animation, which has been doing simulcasts for four years now,” Cervantès says. “We have a business model which is quite different from overseas markets. All the episode are free to watch for one month, financed with advertising – there is less than one minute of advertising per episode. We also sell a premium service, which includes both rental - streaming for 30 days - and download to own. Download to own is important for us, as I think we were the first company in Europe to offer anime with no DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions on a file. Basically we offer files that can be read everywhere, permanently, without installing software or being connected to the internet.”

Regarding the site's streaming, Cervantès says, “We are using Internap, a very strong Content Delivery Network partner in the UK, to provide the fastest stream possible. We will provide both SD and HD for the free content. For premium users, we are offering the best HD quality on the market.”

On Wakanim's history in France, Cervantès says, “Wakanim is a service which was built from nothing four years ago. We just had a contract for one title and constructed everything from scratch, each title allowing us to buy another one. Today in France we have five to six simulcasts each season, including titles such as Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online. We retain titles, with 35 on the French site at present.”

Andrew Partridge, the founder of Anime Limited, adds, “Wakanim's concept is simple and efficient. To truly engage with fans with legal simulcasts, you need to offer a service that's comparable with less legitimate ones. That's something current services don't capture - they're not aiming at that market, and that's something Wakanim can provide. Often, subscription models run on quantity over quality. I would rather provide a quality service and focus on bringing people great shows. Anime Limited will be working both with domestic licensees and Japanese rights holders to bring the best content to Wakanim each season.”

Partridge adds, “I respect what subscription model services like Crunchyroll do and believe there's a great place for them too. I view Wakanim as kind of a neat alternative option for fans. I'd love people to come see what it's all about at MCM Expo in October. We'll have some very neat giveaways at the All the Anime stand including A2 posters for those who like our Facebook and showcase the shows which we're simulcasting - we've a few more surprises to come too.”

Partidge and Cervantès both stress that wakanim.co.uk will not compete with the anime DVD/Blu-ray markets. 'Digital should not be an excuse for acquisition of all rights - it should be a support to the original creators in Japan to promote their work,” says Partridge.

Edit:

Simulcasts

The French simulcast company just obtained licensing rights to the followings shows:

Kill la Kill- Their first simulcastRyuuko Matoi carries a large weapon shaped like half of a pair of scissors. She's looking for the woman with the other half, who killed her father. Satsuki Kiryuuin, student council president of Honnouji Academy, is said to know the woman's identity, so Ryuuko transfers there. Those who arrive at the school receive a special "goku uniform," and Satsuki has used that power to rule the school in fear.